atoll

noun

Definition of atollnext
as in island
a ring-shaped land mass surrounded by water and made of coral

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of atoll Darwin suspected that atolls formed when coral grew around volcanoes, creating a ring that remained when the volcano subsided. — Danny Robb, JSTOR Daily, 19 June 2026 Although the volcanic archipelago includes 137 islands, most of the Hawaiian islands are tiny uninhabited atolls, reefs or islets. — Brianna Randall, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026 This in turn has kept growing to form an atoll of lagoons, channels, and reef that will preclude any kind of future touristic invasion. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 May 2026 Italy's Foreign Ministry said Monday that rescuers have located the bodies of four Italian divers deep inside an underwater cave in an atoll in the Maldives, four days after they were reported missing. — CBS News, 18 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for atoll
Recent Examples of Synonyms for atoll
  1. island
  2. cay
  3. islet
  4. coral reef
Noun
  • Bird flu is a real concern for the fate of the kākāpō because most of the population, totalling just 235, lives on one tiny island sanctuary that lies off the wild coast of Rakiura/Stewart Island.
    — Todd Symons, CNN Money, 22 July 2026
  • This coming-of-age story follows two teenagers, childhood best friends, who reunite for a summer on a small rural island in Korea.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 21 July 2026
Definition of island
Noun
  • The Exumas are a chain of islands and cays known for their ultra-clear water and white, sandy beaches.
    — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 29 May 2026
  • At Ambergris Cay, private aviation and immigration clearance on the cay remove the public mechanics of arrival altogether.
    — Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
Definition of cay
Noun
  • State media reports on Sunday said several tourism companies suspended their speedboat services between the islets after the deadly capsize.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 13 July 2026
  • As the fog slowly revealed and concealed the towering limestone islets, the tranquil scenery was a grounding way to experience one of Vietnam’s most spectacular landscapes.
    — Susmita Baral, Travel + Leisure, 9 July 2026
Definition of islet
Noun
  • Plastic use is minimal, with clean sea and coral reef awareness shared among staff and guests.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 July 2026
  • Most gather around the Abrolhos Bank, a coral reef region spanning the coasts of Bahia and Espirito Santo that is one of the South Atlantic’s most biodiverse marine environments.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 July 2026
Definition of coral reef

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“Atoll.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/atoll. Accessed 23 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on atoll

Nglish: Translation of atoll for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about atoll

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